ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO LAUNCHES MANDARIN AUDIO GUIDE

Launched in conjunction with Chinese New Year, the Art Institute of Chicago debuted its latest addition to its repertoire of audio guides: a tour of the institute's illustrious collection, told in the Mandarin language. Along with the narration in Mandarin, the tour includes a pamphlet with options in Traditional and Simplified Chinese.

CHICAGO BOASTS RECORD TOURISM NUMBERS

The numbers are in, and last year, Chicago set a new visitation record, estimated at 50.2 million visitors, a 3.5% increase over 2013, which broke the 50 million visitor mark for the first time ever. The continued growth indicates that Chicago is on pace to achieve Mayor Emanuel's goal of 55 million visitors per year by the year 2020, particularly with high-profile events such as James Beard Foundation Awards and the NFL Draft slated to take place in 2015.

OBAMA DESIGNATES CHICAGO'S FIRST NATIONAL PARK

Pullman National Monument in the historic Pullman neighborhood became Chicago's first National Park Service site. Already, it has received nearly $8 million in support, from gifts received by the National Park Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.

NEW CTA GREEN LINE STATION OPENS

As part of a $4 billion investment in transit infrastructure, a newly constructed Cermak-McCormick Place Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Green Line station opened in the Near South Side neighborhood, near the intersection of Cermak Road and State Street. The new station features a fully enclosed boarding platform, as well as surrounding improvements such as new sidewalks, landscaping, streetlights and bike racks.

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RELEASES BEST HOTELS 2015 LIST

U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best Hotels in the USA 2015 list, and two of Chicago’s hotels – the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and The Langham, Chicago – made the Top 10. In total, eight Chicago hotels made the comprehensive list.